WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.520 Delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. 00:00:05.639 --> 00:00:09.060 Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen. 00:00:09.960 --> 00:00:13.740 They are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 00:00:14.859 --> 00:00:17.859 They have lost connection with the head from whom the whole body, 00:00:18.339 --> 00:00:24.560 supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. 00:00:25.500 --> 00:00:29.859 Verse 20, since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces, 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.439 of this world, why, as though you still belong to the world, do you submit to its rules? 00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:39.019 Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch. 00:00:40.120 --> 00:00:44.740 These are rules which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use. 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:49.019 These rules are based on merely human commands and teachings. 00:00:50.340 --> 00:00:56.560 Such regulations, indeed, have an appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship, 00:00:56.560 --> 00:01:00.840 their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body. 00:01:01.719 --> 00:01:06.040 But they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. 00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:07.480 Let's pray. 00:01:07.480 --> 00:01:13.939 Father, as we come to your word, we come before you humbly, 00:01:14.300 --> 00:01:17.060 asking that you would open our eyes, that we would see, 00:01:18.159 --> 00:01:22.780 that you would open our hearts to receive the good news once again of Jesus Christ. 00:01:24.439 --> 00:01:28.640 That we would recognize how great you are and how far we have fallen. 00:01:28.640 --> 00:01:35.120 That we would see once again that you have bridged the gap in the person and work of Jesus. 00:01:37.260 --> 00:01:38.760 Would you speak through me, Lord? 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:39.760 Would you teach us? 00:01:40.599 --> 00:01:41.760 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:01:41.980 --> 00:01:42.260 Amen. 00:01:44.799 --> 00:01:48.780 Well, like I said, last week we looked backwards at Leviticus 16, 00:01:49.060 --> 00:01:54.260 and we used that as our illustration of what an Old Testament type or shadow looked like. 00:01:54.260 --> 00:01:57.380 And so this week, if you'll turn to Exodus 32, 00:01:57.880 --> 00:02:04.200 we're going to use the story in Exodus 32 as our illustration through this part of Colossians. 00:02:05.160 --> 00:02:06.840 And as you turn there, I'll remind you, 00:02:06.920 --> 00:02:12.939 the reason that oftentimes we'll use Old Testament stories as our illustrations 00:02:12.939 --> 00:02:19.240 is the way Scripture is designed is the drama of Scripture produces the doctrines of Scripture. 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:23.819 The drama of the Old Testament and the Gospel accounts and the Book of Acts, 00:02:23.819 --> 00:02:28.180 they produce the doctrines that we see of the Christian faith in the epistles. 00:02:28.359 --> 00:02:32.620 And we're in a letter in Colossians, which is very doctrinal. 00:02:33.319 --> 00:02:38.299 And so we'll see that the drama from the Old Testament delivers these doctrines that we see in the New Testament. 00:02:38.680 --> 00:02:42.299 These doctrines lead us into a place of worship or doxology, 00:02:42.620 --> 00:02:47.019 and it's from a place of worship that we live a life of discipleship. 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:51.099 And so we oftentimes want to look back at what happened in the Old Testament, 00:02:51.099 --> 00:02:54.859 because as Paul says in 1 Corinthians, that is there for our example. 00:02:56.159 --> 00:02:58.919 And Exodus 32 is an interesting story. 00:03:00.079 --> 00:03:01.500 It's sometimes well known. 00:03:01.620 --> 00:03:03.299 It might be new to you today, and that's fine. 00:03:03.379 --> 00:03:07.259 But in Exodus 32, what's going on is Israel has come out of Egypt, 00:03:07.459 --> 00:03:09.919 and they're at the base of Mount Sinai. 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:16.799 And God has covenanted with the nation of Israel that in the same way that He brought them out of Egypt, 00:03:16.799 --> 00:03:21.459 out of the slavery under Pharaoh, in the same way that He redeemed them, 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:24.659 He will lead them forward into the Promised Land. 00:03:25.539 --> 00:03:31.399 And before we get to Exodus 32, we see the elders and the leaders of the nation of Israel 00:03:31.399 --> 00:03:33.219 with Moses and Aaron and Joshua. 00:03:33.219 --> 00:03:36.780 We see them feast with the Lord and seal this covenant. 00:03:37.259 --> 00:03:40.080 And now everybody's gone down the mountain except for Moses. 00:03:41.020 --> 00:03:44.460 Moses is at the top of the mountain meeting with God, as it were, 00:03:44.539 --> 00:03:48.240 as God delivers the Ten Commandments on two stone tablets. 00:03:49.360 --> 00:03:51.139 And so Moses is at the top of the mountain. 00:03:51.639 --> 00:03:53.180 Joshua is a little bit further down. 00:03:53.259 --> 00:03:56.719 And then the whole nation of Israel is waiting at the bottom of the mountain. 00:03:57.860 --> 00:04:01.740 And in chapter 32 of Exodus, verse 1, we pick up where it says, 00:04:01.740 --> 00:04:06.120 when the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, 00:04:06.560 --> 00:04:08.320 they gathered around Aaron and said, 00:04:08.700 --> 00:04:11.480 come make us gods who will go before us. 00:04:12.300 --> 00:04:15.379 As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, 00:04:15.540 --> 00:04:17.480 we don't know what has happened to him. 00:04:18.759 --> 00:04:22.220 And then what follows is Aaron, he listens to their demands. 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:25.920 And he has them bring their earrings, their gold, 00:04:26.040 --> 00:04:29.160 and they forge this gold into a golden calf. 00:04:29.160 --> 00:04:34.080 And verses 2-8 show us that they make this golden calf, 00:04:34.220 --> 00:04:37.939 and Aaron presents this golden calf as their god. 00:04:38.840 --> 00:04:40.580 And they begin to worship an idol. 00:04:41.780 --> 00:04:45.260 And they have a whole festival worshiping this golden calf. 00:04:46.600 --> 00:04:50.060 As if this golden calf can now lead them forward. 00:04:51.520 --> 00:04:53.960 So great, yes, God brought them out. 00:04:54.040 --> 00:04:54.980 He redeemed them. 00:04:55.120 --> 00:04:56.860 He brought them out from slavery. 00:04:56.860 --> 00:05:02.020 But now this new thing that they made is going to lead them forward to the promised land. 00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:05.540 And God tells Moses about what's going down. 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:09.120 And in verse 15 we pick up in Exodus 32, 15, 00:05:09.500 --> 00:05:14.740 Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands. 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:18.000 They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:20.500 The tablets were the work of God. 00:05:20.500 --> 00:05:23.519 The writing was the writing of God engraved on the tablets. 00:05:24.420 --> 00:05:27.019 When Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting, 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:27.759 he said to Moses, 00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:29.879 there's a sound of war in the camp. 00:05:30.779 --> 00:05:31.819 And Moses replied, 00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:33.360 it is not the sound of victory. 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:34.879 It is not the sound of defeat. 00:05:35.259 --> 00:05:37.160 It is the sound of singing that I hear. 00:05:38.180 --> 00:05:41.839 And when Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, 00:05:41.959 --> 00:05:43.240 his anger burned. 00:05:43.240 --> 00:05:46.160 And he threw the tablets out of his hands, 00:05:46.300 --> 00:05:48.319 breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. 00:05:49.480 --> 00:05:52.939 And he took the calf the people had made and burned it in the fire. 00:05:53.699 --> 00:05:55.220 Then he ground it to powder, 00:05:55.439 --> 00:05:56.560 scattered it on the water, 00:05:56.780 --> 00:05:59.220 and made the Israelites drink it. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:02.379 Very odd twist in the story there. 00:06:03.379 --> 00:06:04.079 As we read, 00:06:04.160 --> 00:06:08.680 it continues that what Moses does then is he draws a line in the sand, 00:06:08.680 --> 00:06:09.259 as it were, 00:06:09.560 --> 00:06:13.759 and 3,000 Israelites are put to death that day. 00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:18.040 A very odd sort of story. 00:06:18.840 --> 00:06:20.480 A very serious story. 00:06:21.460 --> 00:06:26.519 And a story which conveys to us how important it is for us to recognize 00:06:26.519 --> 00:06:29.379 that in the same way that God redeems us, 00:06:29.960 --> 00:06:33.660 He has a way which He will sanctify us. 00:06:34.259 --> 00:06:36.460 And we're not to come up with that way on our own. 00:06:36.459 --> 00:06:40.599 So in the same way that God redeemed Israel, 00:06:41.399 --> 00:06:42.919 through His work, 00:06:43.019 --> 00:06:44.060 by His plan, 00:06:44.739 --> 00:06:46.000 according to His will, 00:06:47.039 --> 00:06:48.859 He had a way for them to move forward. 00:06:48.959 --> 00:06:50.339 And it's the same for us as Christians, 00:06:50.839 --> 00:06:52.759 that our source of sanctification, 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:53.839 this is our main idea, 00:06:54.199 --> 00:06:55.719 our source of sanctification, 00:06:55.859 --> 00:06:56.179 or that is, 00:06:56.359 --> 00:06:58.519 how we continue to grow in the faith, 00:06:59.500 --> 00:07:02.740 is the same source as our salvation. 00:07:03.419 --> 00:07:04.639 Namely, Jesus Christ. 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:08.079 So the source for moving forward as God's people 00:07:08.079 --> 00:07:12.000 is the same as the source which makes us God's people. 00:07:12.139 --> 00:07:13.779 And that's what we see in Exodus 32, 00:07:14.159 --> 00:07:18.120 and that's what Paul is going to begin to expound here in Colossians 2. 00:07:19.459 --> 00:07:21.500 And what we're going to look at today is our problems. 00:07:21.620 --> 00:07:22.439 There's three of them. 00:07:22.939 --> 00:07:23.759 Our protection, 00:07:24.279 --> 00:07:25.199 and our path ahead. 00:07:25.300 --> 00:07:25.919 Our problems, 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:27.060 our protection, 00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:28.360 and our path ahead. 00:07:28.459 --> 00:07:28.879 So first, 00:07:29.159 --> 00:07:29.819 our problems. 00:07:29.919 --> 00:07:30.259 And again, 00:07:30.300 --> 00:07:30.939 there's three of them. 00:07:30.939 --> 00:07:31.620 First, 00:07:31.719 --> 00:07:35.160 we have the problem of often listening to the wrong people. 00:07:35.860 --> 00:07:36.920 Either others, 00:07:37.620 --> 00:07:39.019 or ourselves. 00:07:39.980 --> 00:07:40.560 And last week, 00:07:40.620 --> 00:07:43.160 we looked at the problem of listening to the wrong people 00:07:43.160 --> 00:07:46.079 when they try to point us backwards into Old Testament shadows, 00:07:46.199 --> 00:07:48.060 or theological legalism. 00:07:48.120 --> 00:07:48.600 And this week, 00:07:48.659 --> 00:07:50.879 we look at the problem of listening to others, 00:07:50.939 --> 00:07:51.680 or even ourselves, 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:53.240 as we look forward, 00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:56.720 and we turn to man-made methods for sanctification. 00:07:58.600 --> 00:07:59.779 Aaron made this mistake. 00:07:59.779 --> 00:08:01.479 He listened to Israel, 00:08:01.779 --> 00:08:04.019 instead of to Moses, 00:08:04.159 --> 00:08:05.979 who had told him what God had said. 00:08:07.599 --> 00:08:08.579 And like Aaron, 00:08:08.679 --> 00:08:12.179 we often find ourselves surrounded by other voices, 00:08:13.619 --> 00:08:17.459 telling us how it is that we should move forward in the faith. 00:08:19.059 --> 00:08:19.439 In fact, 00:08:19.479 --> 00:08:23.199 most researchers say that today we're suffering from information overload. 00:08:23.899 --> 00:08:27.139 I found an article in an English news source this week that said, 00:08:27.139 --> 00:08:29.919 if you think you are suffering from information overload, 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:31.180 then you may be right. 00:08:31.939 --> 00:08:40.639 A new study shows everyone is bombarded by the equivalent of 174 newspapers worth of data per day. 00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:47.179 I don't know if you can imagine sitting down and reading 174 newspapers every single day. 00:08:47.259 --> 00:08:48.379 That's a lot of information. 00:08:48.379 --> 00:08:56.700 But research shows that's how much information is coming at us just by living normal life on planet Earth right now. 00:08:56.939 --> 00:08:58.960 That's 34 gigabytes of information. 00:08:59.320 --> 00:09:01.700 It's enough to destroy your computer in one week, 00:09:02.039 --> 00:09:03.179 completely overloaded. 00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:04.620 And yet, 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:07.879 that's what's coming at us every single day. 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:13.700 As we try to stay in God's Word and we try to grow in Christ, 00:09:13.879 --> 00:09:17.320 we have all these voices shouting to us from the world, 00:09:17.720 --> 00:09:19.039 calling us to other ways, 00:09:19.159 --> 00:09:20.580 other methods for living life. 00:09:21.700 --> 00:09:22.659 The result is, 00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:25.700 we're becoming a people who live in this information age 00:09:25.700 --> 00:09:27.759 that are less contemplative, 00:09:28.179 --> 00:09:28.960 less thoughtful, 00:09:29.159 --> 00:09:29.820 less intentional, 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:31.700 and much more reactionary 00:09:31.700 --> 00:09:35.639 to just doing whatever those other things tell us to do. 00:09:35.639 --> 00:09:38.340 And the reality is, 00:09:38.379 --> 00:09:40.699 I think if we take a moment to think about ourselves, 00:09:40.819 --> 00:09:43.439 we'll recognize we're going to listen to somebody. 00:09:44.319 --> 00:09:45.860 We're going to listen to somebody. 00:09:45.960 --> 00:09:46.960 Either others, 00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:49.279 or I would argue even worse, 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:50.500 we'll listen to ourselves, 00:09:51.179 --> 00:09:53.799 or we will listen to God and what He says. 00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:57.159 If we listen to others, 00:09:57.819 --> 00:10:01.240 we run the risk of being like the people here in Colossians 2.18. 00:10:02.919 --> 00:10:04.860 That's why Paul strongly says, 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:05.860 in verse 18, 00:10:06.039 --> 00:10:09.440 do not let anyone who delights in false humility 00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:12.560 and the worship of angels disqualify you. 00:10:13.320 --> 00:10:16.379 Such a person goes into great detail about what they have seen, 00:10:16.560 --> 00:10:20.259 and they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:21.820 And so here's what's going on in Colossians. 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:23.800 You have people who are Christians. 00:10:23.980 --> 00:10:27.980 They have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. 00:10:27.980 --> 00:10:30.740 And when they start to look at, 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:32.940 how can I become a better Christian, 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:33.460 so to speak, 00:10:33.500 --> 00:10:34.800 how can I grow in my faith, 00:10:35.180 --> 00:10:37.300 they're just making stuff up, 00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:39.080 and then they're calling others to it, 00:10:39.100 --> 00:10:42.860 and they're placing the burden of man-made religion on those people. 00:10:42.860 --> 00:10:44.860 And we have papyri, 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:47.519 we have inscriptions that show us in that area, 00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:49.340 people are just coming up with stuff. 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:53.879 They're saying what you need to do is you need to fast for a long time, 00:10:53.980 --> 00:10:55.800 and then not sleep for a long time, 00:10:55.960 --> 00:10:59.159 and then have this kind of spiritual experience. 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:02.120 And if you have the right spiritual experience, 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:04.500 then you're more Christian than somebody else. 00:11:05.659 --> 00:11:06.120 And again, 00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:06.940 it's just man-made. 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:08.879 And I can tell you, 00:11:08.919 --> 00:11:11.740 I did some extreme training in the U.S. Navy, 00:11:11.980 --> 00:11:15.720 and if you withhold food and sleep from someone for long enough, 00:11:15.980 --> 00:11:17.659 they will have experience. 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:18.799 You just hallucinate. 00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:20.600 Your brain malfunctions, 00:11:20.779 --> 00:11:23.120 and you just start to see things that aren't there, 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:25.159 and experience things that aren't actually happening. 00:11:26.279 --> 00:11:27.580 And what's going on in Colossians, 00:11:27.580 --> 00:11:29.259 people are just making this up, 00:11:29.340 --> 00:11:31.820 that you need to be harsh on your body, 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:33.700 withhold sleep, withhold food, 00:11:33.799 --> 00:11:35.779 and then have some sort of spiritual experience, 00:11:35.779 --> 00:11:38.000 and that will propel you forward in the faith. 00:11:38.100 --> 00:11:40.059 So you're brought to faith by Christ, 00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:42.959 but now it's up to you to really become a good Christian. 00:11:45.860 --> 00:11:46.740 And Paul says, 00:11:47.079 --> 00:11:50.000 don't let people disqualify you 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:54.039 by convincing you to listen to them. 00:11:55.919 --> 00:11:59.959 Don't let them prevent you from moving forward in the faith. 00:12:00.459 --> 00:12:01.740 I like how Eugene Peterson, 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:03.779 he translates this in the message as, 00:12:03.779 --> 00:12:07.379 do not tolerate people who try to run your life, 00:12:07.779 --> 00:12:10.139 ordering you to bow and scrape, 00:12:10.299 --> 00:12:13.399 insisting that you join their obsession with angels, 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:14.919 and that you seek out visions. 00:12:15.259 --> 00:12:16.459 There are a lot of hot air, 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:18.000 and that's all they are. 00:12:19.819 --> 00:12:22.000 Again, consider Exodus 32 again. 00:12:23.159 --> 00:12:25.179 They pressured Aaron to listen to them, 00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:28.220 to come up with a new way forward, 00:12:28.220 --> 00:12:31.440 a new God who would go before them, 00:12:32.139 --> 00:12:34.399 other than the God who had already saved them. 00:12:36.920 --> 00:12:39.460 And Paul says in verse 22 of Colossians 2, 00:12:39.540 --> 00:12:39.800 he says, 00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:42.300 these rules are destined to perish. 00:12:43.340 --> 00:12:48.440 That's because they're based on merely human commands and teachings. 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:51.019 Somebody came up with them. 00:12:51.019 --> 00:12:55.079 And so we might think that instead of listening to others, 00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:57.360 maybe we'll come up with our own ideas. 00:12:57.699 --> 00:12:58.819 And the Bible says, 00:12:58.899 --> 00:13:00.220 well, that's even worse. 00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:02.779 It's an even worse option. 00:13:02.840 --> 00:13:05.919 Because if we think about where did the others get their ideas, 00:13:06.079 --> 00:13:10.179 well, somebody came up with it themselves at some point. 00:13:10.179 --> 00:13:14.439 And when it comes to the things of God, 00:13:15.939 --> 00:13:17.939 we are so fallen that, 00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:19.639 to be just completely frank, 00:13:19.959 --> 00:13:22.139 we don't come up with good ideas on our own. 00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:25.039 John Calvin says, 00:13:25.339 --> 00:13:28.239 our hearts are idol factories. 00:13:29.699 --> 00:13:30.079 He says, 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:31.839 the human mind is, so to speak, 00:13:32.079 --> 00:13:34.019 a perpetual forge of idols. 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:36.000 The human mind, 00:13:36.359 --> 00:13:38.879 stuffed as it is with presumptuous rashness, 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:42.720 dares to imagine a God suited to its own capacity. 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:44.639 And that's what the Israelites were doing at Sinai. 00:13:44.919 --> 00:13:48.200 They dreamt up what God would be in their minds. 00:13:49.980 --> 00:13:50.639 Calvin says, 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:52.919 as our mind labors under dullness, 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:55.000 it is sunk into the grossest ignorance. 00:13:55.460 --> 00:13:57.059 And then it substitutes vanity 00:13:57.059 --> 00:13:59.700 and empty phantoms in the place of God. 00:14:00.580 --> 00:14:02.159 And then to these evils and others added, 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:05.019 the God whom man has thus conceived inwardly, 00:14:05.100 --> 00:14:07.000 he attempts to embody outwardly. 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:08.879 The mind conceives the idol. 00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:11.139 The hand gives it birth. 00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:11.980 And so we think, 00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:13.320 I won't listen to others. 00:14:13.419 --> 00:14:15.320 I'll just come up with my own way forward. 00:14:15.379 --> 00:14:16.600 My own way to please God. 00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:20.360 And the Bible is just overly abundant 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:21.659 that that won't work 00:14:21.659 --> 00:14:24.860 because all we will conceive are idols. 00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:29.919 Only God gets to say how He's worshipped. 00:14:31.179 --> 00:14:32.340 In Jeremiah 17, 00:14:32.740 --> 00:14:33.480 Scripture says, 00:14:33.580 --> 00:14:36.379 the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:39.679 Who can understand it? 00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:43.960 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. 00:14:45.220 --> 00:14:47.100 Listening to ourselves is not the answer. 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:49.159 I found this quote interesting 00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:50.700 because at first it sounds nice. 00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:52.419 Follow your instincts, go inside. 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:54.720 Follow your heart right from the start. 00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:57.419 It's not a bad sounding quote. 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:00.039 Follow your instincts right from the start. 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:03.519 Follow your heart right from the start. 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:06.639 It's a Buddhist proverb. 00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:10.179 See, every other religion out there, 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:11.819 every other worldview says 00:15:11.819 --> 00:15:13.779 that you've got something inside of you 00:15:13.779 --> 00:15:14.720 that's really good 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:16.220 and you need to look to that 00:15:16.220 --> 00:15:18.159 and that will propel you forward. 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:21.459 And the Bible says that's simply not true. 00:15:23.059 --> 00:15:24.240 Ecclesiastes 9.3 says, 00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:26.699 the hearts of the children of man are full of evil. 00:15:27.179 --> 00:15:29.399 There is madness in their hearts while they live. 00:15:29.819 --> 00:15:30.759 Following your heart, 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:32.120 listening to yourself 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:34.699 won't do you any better than listening to others. 00:15:36.179 --> 00:15:37.600 And so we'll need a third option. 00:15:37.699 --> 00:15:38.519 We can't listen to others. 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:39.939 We can't listen to ourselves. 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:42.419 There has to be a third option. 00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:44.579 And before we come back to that third option, 00:15:44.679 --> 00:15:46.579 I want to show you two other problems 00:15:46.579 --> 00:15:48.000 that Paul points out here. 00:15:49.439 --> 00:15:51.740 He also points out the problem 00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:53.939 of the appealing appearance of lies. 00:15:55.339 --> 00:15:56.419 If you think about it, 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:59.679 lies don't usually look like big, ugly things. 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:02.139 They usually look kind of appealing. 00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:05.279 In verse 23, Paul says, 00:16:05.799 --> 00:16:08.159 such regulations that are these man-made commands, 00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:10.240 they have an appearance of wisdom. 00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:11.099 They look good. 00:16:11.100 --> 00:16:13.840 With their self-imposed worship, 00:16:14.019 --> 00:16:15.639 their false humility, 00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:17.700 their harsh treatment of the body, 00:16:17.779 --> 00:16:19.700 but they lack any value 00:16:19.700 --> 00:16:21.680 in restraining sensual indulgence. 00:16:22.420 --> 00:16:23.399 And we have to recognize 00:16:23.399 --> 00:16:25.300 the subtle veneer of truth 00:16:25.300 --> 00:16:27.860 that is often painted over Satan's lies. 00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:29.540 They have the appearance of wisdom. 00:16:29.700 --> 00:16:30.879 They seem humble. 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:32.680 They seem like they can restrain 00:16:32.680 --> 00:16:33.680 in sensual indulgence. 00:16:33.779 --> 00:16:35.259 It seems like this might help you 00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:36.779 be a better Christian. 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:40.600 But they're useless in helping you 00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:42.259 move forward in the faith. 00:16:43.659 --> 00:16:45.580 Again, think about what the Israelites said to Aaron. 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:47.120 There's actually truth 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:48.480 in some of the things they said to him. 00:16:49.340 --> 00:16:50.759 When the people saw that Moses 00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:52.100 was long in coming down, 00:16:52.180 --> 00:16:53.620 they gathered around Aaron and said, 00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:55.879 make us gods who will go before us. 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:57.460 As for this fellow Moses, 00:16:57.600 --> 00:16:58.700 who brought us out of Egypt, 00:16:58.779 --> 00:16:59.860 we don't know what happened to him. 00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:02.080 Now, there's some truth in what they said. 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:04.599 It had been 40 days 00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:06.059 since Moses had gone up the mountain. 00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:06.980 That's a long time. 00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:09.720 If you think back to early June, 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:10.539 that's the last time 00:17:10.539 --> 00:17:11.859 they had seen this guy Moses. 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:14.480 They weren't sure 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:15.359 what had happened to him. 00:17:15.419 --> 00:17:16.899 There had been thunder 00:17:16.899 --> 00:17:19.000 and lightning on the mountain. 00:17:20.339 --> 00:17:21.480 And this guy Moses, 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:22.859 who had led him out of the Promised Land, 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:24.279 they weren't sure 00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:25.179 what had happened to him. 00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:27.159 And if we're honest, 00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:27.879 it's always nice 00:17:27.879 --> 00:17:29.159 to have a God go before us, 00:17:29.220 --> 00:17:31.299 especially as they're going into battle 00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:33.000 to conquer other nations. 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:33.660 Of course, 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:34.680 it would be great 00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:36.019 to have God go before them. 00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:39.420 So there's this appealing appearance 00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:40.980 to these lies. 00:17:42.660 --> 00:17:44.160 And what makes a lie a good lie 00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:45.539 is it has just a bit of truth 00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:46.660 polished over the top of it, 00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:47.119 doesn't it? 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:50.619 And the same was going on in Colossae. 00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:52.720 There's an appearance of wisdom. 00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:53.960 It seemed like good advice 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:56.140 to have these spiritual experiences. 00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:58.180 There's a false humility. 00:17:58.299 --> 00:17:59.940 It seemed like the person leading it, 00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:01.980 yeah, they seem like a good person. 00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:04.220 They're a humble guy or gal. 00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:06.500 It seems like it could 00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:08.099 restrain sensual indulgence 00:18:08.099 --> 00:18:10.180 in that if you follow these methods, 00:18:10.339 --> 00:18:11.740 well, you'll be a better person. 00:18:11.880 --> 00:18:12.720 Maybe God will even be 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:14.059 more pleased with you. 00:18:14.120 --> 00:18:15.880 And the same happens today 00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:17.180 in man-made religions 00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:19.160 that claim to make us better. 00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:23.240 They often have appearances of wisdom. 00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:26.039 They're often led by people 00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:27.839 who have a false humility. 00:18:27.839 --> 00:18:31.599 And they promise a better path forward 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:33.679 and that you can be a better person. 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:36.480 So we have the problem 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.720 of listening to the wrong people. 00:18:37.859 --> 00:18:38.500 We have the problem 00:18:38.500 --> 00:18:40.679 of the appealing appearance of lies. 00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:42.220 And then the third problem 00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:43.220 that Paul points out 00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:45.679 is the seriousness of the situation. 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:47.079 We see this in verse 19. 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:50.459 That the people who have listened to others 00:18:50.459 --> 00:18:51.319 and not themselves 00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:54.019 have lost connection with the head 00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:56.759 from whom the whole body supported 00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:58.879 and held together by its ligaments 00:18:58.879 --> 00:19:00.379 and sinews grows 00:19:00.379 --> 00:19:02.220 as God causes it to grow. 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:04.879 Now sometimes we just read 00:19:04.879 --> 00:19:06.079 right over that little illustration 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:07.700 that they have lost 00:19:07.700 --> 00:19:09.920 connection with the head. 00:19:10.920 --> 00:19:12.119 I don't think we have any 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:13.639 little children in here 00:19:13.639 --> 00:19:14.700 so we can just be honest. 00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:16.680 Nothing good happens 00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:19.299 if a part of your body 00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:20.960 loses connection with your head. 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:25.180 Beheading is not a way forward. 00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:28.240 It's a way to death. 00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:31.799 And Paul's being over the top gruesome 00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:32.819 if we really think about it. 00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:34.980 If I were to take any part of my body, 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:36.740 if I were to cut off my hand, 00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:38.539 sever my hand from my head 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:39.720 and set it here 00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:41.160 and then come back next week 00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:42.660 and yell at my hand for not growing, 00:19:42.860 --> 00:19:44.019 you would say you're a fool. 00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:45.680 You severed that body part 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:47.019 from the rest of your body. 00:19:47.120 --> 00:19:48.180 It's been severed 00:19:48.180 --> 00:19:49.480 from any source of life 00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:50.759 and you're getting upset at it 00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:51.400 for not growing. 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:53.420 And Paul's saying 00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:54.299 anybody that comes up 00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:55.960 with their own path forward, 00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:56.920 anybody that comes up 00:19:56.920 --> 00:19:58.740 with some new source 00:19:58.740 --> 00:19:59.640 of sanctification, 00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:01.120 they have severed themselves 00:20:01.120 --> 00:20:02.339 from the head. 00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:05.519 So don't be shocked 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:07.500 as they wither 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:08.700 and shrivel and die. 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:11.740 We cannot separate 00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:13.099 ourselves from Christ. 00:20:13.259 --> 00:20:15.339 It's a serious situation. 00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:18.440 Just like we saw in Exodus 32. 00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:19.960 It led to the death 00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:21.460 of 3,000 people. 00:20:24.200 --> 00:20:25.740 There is no separation 00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:26.320 from the head 00:20:26.320 --> 00:20:27.100 which goes well 00:20:27.100 --> 00:20:28.880 for any person. 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:32.400 It is a serious situation. 00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:35.000 And we have to recognize 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:36.600 it's just as serious today 00:20:36.600 --> 00:20:38.740 as it was in Paul's day 00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:40.600 as it was in Israel's day. 00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:44.340 Will we listen to others 00:20:44.339 --> 00:20:46.740 or will we listen to ourselves? 00:20:48.099 --> 00:20:49.859 Will we listen to the one true God? 00:20:51.699 --> 00:20:53.059 Will we recognize 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:54.879 how serious the situation is? 00:20:55.879 --> 00:20:58.319 How attractive lives can look? 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:03.299 Or will we faithfully follow Christ 00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:06.119 as God grows us? 00:21:06.119 --> 00:21:07.979 And that's what Paul says there 00:21:07.979 --> 00:21:09.519 in Colossians 2.19 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:11.819 that being connected 00:21:11.819 --> 00:21:12.479 to the head 00:21:12.479 --> 00:21:16.199 God causes us to grow. 00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:18.619 So we who have 00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:20.219 believed in the gospel 00:21:20.219 --> 00:21:21.500 that is we have confessed 00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:23.059 that we are sinners 00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:24.639 and we have professed 00:21:24.639 --> 00:21:25.859 faith in Christ 00:21:25.859 --> 00:21:28.319 that He lived the perfect life 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:29.099 that we couldn't live 00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:30.439 that He died the death 00:21:30.439 --> 00:21:31.219 we should have died 00:21:31.219 --> 00:21:32.599 that He was raised 00:21:32.599 --> 00:21:33.419 on the third day 00:21:33.419 --> 00:21:34.759 that He ascended to heaven 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:36.240 that He will return 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:37.019 for His people. 00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:37.619 Those of us 00:21:37.619 --> 00:21:39.059 who have confessed our sins 00:21:39.059 --> 00:21:40.279 and professed those truths 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:41.079 those of us 00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:41.859 who are Christians 00:21:41.859 --> 00:21:43.220 that have believed 00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:44.000 in the gospel 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:48.119 we don't begin to grow 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:50.539 ourselves in the faith. 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:52.759 God grows us 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.740 in the faith 00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:55.220 in the ways that He has said 00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:55.799 we will grow. 00:21:56.140 --> 00:21:56.779 And now we begin 00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:57.740 to see our protection. 00:21:58.920 --> 00:22:00.379 So we see all these problems 00:22:00.379 --> 00:22:01.900 that we are faced with 00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:03.420 and Paul now lays out 00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:04.240 our protection there 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:05.559 in verse 19 as well. 00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:05.940 That is, 00:22:06.299 --> 00:22:07.400 is from the head 00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:09.299 that the whole body 00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:10.759 supported and held together 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:12.819 grows as God causes it to grow. 00:22:12.900 --> 00:22:13.640 Now if we look back 00:22:13.640 --> 00:22:14.700 at Colossians 1.18 00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:15.759 who is the head? 00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:18.200 Paul says that is Christ 00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:19.059 who is the head 00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:20.279 of the body of the church. 00:22:20.779 --> 00:22:21.620 He is the beginning 00:22:21.620 --> 00:22:23.019 and the firstborn 00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:24.039 from among the dead. 00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:26.099 So in the same way 00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:27.339 that we said a few weeks ago 00:22:27.339 --> 00:22:28.839 that there is no new birth, 00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:30.940 there is no Christian salvation 00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:31.839 apart from Christ, 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:33.779 there is also no growth 00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.959 or sanctification 00:22:34.959 --> 00:22:36.299 in Christianity 00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:37.599 without Christ. 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:39.799 And that is why Paul 00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:40.919 says in verse 20, 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:42.699 since you died with Christ 00:22:42.699 --> 00:22:44.299 to the elemental spiritual forces 00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:45.379 of this world, 00:22:45.619 --> 00:22:45.959 why? 00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:47.019 As though you still belong 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:47.500 to the world. 00:22:47.579 --> 00:22:48.679 Do you submit to its rules? 00:22:49.679 --> 00:22:50.659 He says Christianity 00:22:50.659 --> 00:22:52.079 is dying with Christ. 00:22:52.159 --> 00:22:53.659 It is being raised with Christ. 00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:55.500 And it is living in Christ. 00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:57.000 It is an all-encompassing 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:58.519 life with Christ. 00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:59.200 That is why we say 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:01.259 the gospel both brings you in 00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:02.660 and grows you up. 00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:06.059 You never grow out of the gospel. 00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:08.359 It brings us in 00:23:08.359 --> 00:23:09.980 and grows us up. 00:23:11.139 --> 00:23:13.500 It creates an entire new way of life 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:15.420 and literally affects 00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:17.079 everything about us. 00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:19.920 I would argue that the gospel 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:21.799 is not just the ABCs 00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:22.559 of coming to faith, 00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:24.879 but it is the A to Z, 00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:25.819 or I think you say Z, 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.900 of being in the faith. 00:23:28.519 --> 00:23:30.000 It is the beginning 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.619 and the middle 00:23:30.619 --> 00:23:31.680 and the end. 00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:34.400 And so it is inaccurate 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:35.440 to think that the gospel 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:38.000 is just what saves non-Christians. 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.220 And in Christians, 00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:42.799 we mature by just trying hard 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:44.839 to live to some principles. 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:46.299 That is not what the gospel is. 00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:49.019 It is more accurate 00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:50.420 to say we are saved 00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:51.700 by believing the gospel 00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:53.539 and then we are transformed 00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:55.559 in every part of our hearts 00:23:55.559 --> 00:23:56.319 and our minds 00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:56.940 and our lives 00:23:56.940 --> 00:23:58.820 by believing the gospel 00:23:58.820 --> 00:24:01.000 more and more deeply 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:02.000 as life goes on. 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:04.860 We continue to look up at God 00:24:04.860 --> 00:24:06.299 and how great He is. 00:24:06.580 --> 00:24:07.640 We continue to recognize 00:24:07.640 --> 00:24:09.000 how far we have fallen. 00:24:09.420 --> 00:24:11.440 We see Christ bridging that gap, 00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:12.960 bringing us back 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:14.160 to be God's people, 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:15.320 putting us back 00:24:15.320 --> 00:24:16.420 in a relationship with God. 00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:17.080 And we see that 00:24:17.080 --> 00:24:18.580 over and over 00:24:18.580 --> 00:24:19.779 and over again. 00:24:19.860 --> 00:24:21.740 And as we steep ourselves 00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:22.539 in the gospel, 00:24:22.900 --> 00:24:24.420 then we grow in the faith. 00:24:24.420 --> 00:24:25.160 We don't come up 00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:26.000 with our own methods. 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:28.740 Christ is the method. 00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:31.680 And so the gospel, 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:33.240 it comes in two movements. 00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:34.140 We saw last week 00:24:34.140 --> 00:24:34.980 that first it says, 00:24:35.420 --> 00:24:37.000 I am more sinful and flawed 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:38.320 than I ever dared believe. 00:24:39.380 --> 00:24:40.000 And then we look 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:40.920 to Christ's saving work 00:24:40.920 --> 00:24:42.480 as our only hope for salvation. 00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:45.800 And then it follows that up 00:24:45.800 --> 00:24:46.840 with I am more, 00:24:47.060 --> 00:24:47.980 as a Christian, 00:24:48.120 --> 00:24:49.100 I am more accepted 00:24:49.100 --> 00:24:50.259 and loved 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:51.660 than I ever dared hope. 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:53.940 And it is only by 00:24:53.940 --> 00:24:54.820 remaining connected 00:24:54.820 --> 00:24:56.080 to the one through whom 00:24:56.080 --> 00:24:57.800 God's love was made manifest 00:24:57.800 --> 00:25:00.900 that I can truly find 00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:01.540 any way forward 00:25:01.540 --> 00:25:02.160 in this life. 00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:06.320 The gospel is our protection. 00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:09.560 And then finally, 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:11.600 Paul lays out our path ahead, 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.340 which I mentioned 00:25:12.340 --> 00:25:14.120 we'll look at even more 00:25:14.120 --> 00:25:14.920 on Wednesday night 00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:16.540 as well as in the coming weeks. 00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:17.440 Paul's going to really 00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:19.620 give us the practical application 00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:20.340 of these truths. 00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:22.740 For now, 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.519 we'll just say that 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:24.599 the path ahead 00:25:24.599 --> 00:25:25.699 is to remain 00:25:25.699 --> 00:25:26.480 in the gospel. 00:25:27.859 --> 00:25:29.139 It's in God's word. 00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:32.159 Hebrews 1, 1 and 2, 00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:32.759 in the past, 00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:34.079 God spoke to our ancestors 00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:35.619 through the prophets, 00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:36.679 that is the Old Testament. 00:25:37.619 --> 00:25:38.619 And in these last days, 00:25:38.679 --> 00:25:39.459 He's spoken to us 00:25:39.459 --> 00:25:40.199 by His Son, 00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:41.419 that is the New Testament. 00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:46.399 That we read the Bible together, 00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:48.639 we read the Bible alone, 00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:49.919 we read the Bible on Sundays, 00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:51.400 we hear the word proclaimed, 00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:52.580 we read the Bible 00:25:52.580 --> 00:25:53.560 in the middle of the week, 00:25:53.880 --> 00:25:55.019 we read people steeped 00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:55.500 in the Bible 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:57.680 because it's all about 00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:59.940 proclaiming who Christ is 00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:00.620 and what He's done. 00:26:01.360 --> 00:26:02.140 The whole scriptures 00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:03.220 from beginning to end 00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:04.880 shouts the good news 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:05.840 of Jesus Christ. 00:26:07.560 --> 00:26:08.759 And God grows us up 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:10.279 as well through the sacraments, 00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:11.400 which is baptism 00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:12.320 in the Lord's Supper. 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:14.140 And not in some sort of 00:26:14.140 --> 00:26:15.240 mystical way, 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:17.319 but in a way in which 00:26:17.319 --> 00:26:19.039 we get to see with our eyes 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:21.180 the truth that Scripture proclaims. 00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:23.400 So when someone is baptized, 00:26:23.660 --> 00:26:24.599 we watch as they are 00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:26.680 buried with Christ symbolically 00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:27.940 and raised again, 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:30.519 symbolizing and sealing 00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:31.539 what has happened to them 00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:32.180 in Christ, 00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:34.559 as well as pointing us forward 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:35.680 to the final resurrection. 00:26:36.819 --> 00:26:38.160 We see the gospel 00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:38.900 played out there. 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:40.019 We see the gospel 00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:41.440 in the Lord's Supper 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:42.880 when we hold the bread 00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:44.140 and we are reminded 00:26:44.140 --> 00:26:45.720 that it was Christ's body 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:46.940 that was broken for us. 00:26:48.320 --> 00:26:49.300 And then we take the cup 00:26:49.300 --> 00:26:49.880 and we are reminded 00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:50.560 that we are people 00:26:50.560 --> 00:26:51.400 of the new covenant, 00:26:52.780 --> 00:26:53.540 which was sealed 00:26:53.540 --> 00:26:54.240 in His blood, 00:26:54.340 --> 00:26:55.320 which was shed for us. 00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:59.020 These are the tangible, 00:26:59.840 --> 00:27:00.640 visible reminders 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:01.620 of who Christ is 00:27:01.620 --> 00:27:02.200 and what He's done 00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:03.300 on our behalf. 00:27:04.080 --> 00:27:04.880 So we have the word 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:05.980 and sacrament 00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.760 and then finally 00:27:06.760 --> 00:27:08.140 prayer and worship. 00:27:09.780 --> 00:27:11.380 Paul says in 1 Timothy 2, 00:27:11.380 --> 00:27:12.240 I urge you that 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:13.359 supplications, 00:27:13.640 --> 00:27:14.019 prayers, 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:15.099 intercessions, 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:15.920 and thanksgivings 00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:16.400 be made. 00:27:17.059 --> 00:27:17.859 I desire that 00:27:17.859 --> 00:27:18.779 in every place 00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:19.620 men should pray 00:27:19.620 --> 00:27:21.160 lifting holy hands. 00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:22.620 And we'll see 00:27:22.620 --> 00:27:23.620 at the end of Colossians 00:27:23.620 --> 00:27:24.960 as Paul reminds 00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:25.880 the church in Colossae 00:27:25.880 --> 00:27:26.799 that Epaphras, 00:27:26.920 --> 00:27:27.680 the church planter, 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:28.680 their original pastor, 00:27:28.859 --> 00:27:30.079 that he wrestles 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:31.059 for them in prayer. 00:27:32.680 --> 00:27:33.720 And we're reminded 00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:35.160 that we don't have 00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:36.480 to invent new voices 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:37.980 to listen to us. 00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:38.440 We don't have 00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:39.880 to have hallucinatory 00:27:39.880 --> 00:27:41.279 or visionary dreams 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:42.299 to talk to somebody. 00:27:42.700 --> 00:27:43.480 God has given us 00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:45.160 a means to hear 00:27:45.160 --> 00:27:46.480 and to speak to Him 00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:47.379 and it's through prayer. 00:27:49.639 --> 00:27:50.480 And I would also say 00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:51.799 worship is a response 00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:52.720 to the Gospel as well 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:53.920 which propels us forward. 00:27:55.639 --> 00:27:56.359 Paul's going to say 00:27:56.359 --> 00:27:57.899 in Colossians 3.16, 00:27:58.019 --> 00:27:59.319 let the message of Christ 00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:00.559 dwell among you richly 00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:01.759 as you teach 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:03.160 and admonish one another 00:28:03.160 --> 00:28:03.779 with wisdom 00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:04.799 through psalms, 00:28:05.399 --> 00:28:05.839 hymns, 00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:07.420 and songs from the Spirit, 00:28:07.619 --> 00:28:08.519 singing to God 00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:09.139 with gratitude 00:28:09.139 --> 00:28:09.900 in your hearts. 00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:12.420 And so we hear 00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:12.879 the Gospel 00:28:12.879 --> 00:28:13.680 through God's Word. 00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:15.859 We see the Gospel 00:28:15.859 --> 00:28:17.119 and the sacraments 00:28:17.119 --> 00:28:18.339 of baptism and supper 00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:19.500 and we respond 00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:20.099 to the Gospel 00:28:20.099 --> 00:28:21.000 in prayer and worship. 00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:23.180 It's a relational life. 00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:23.900 Let me say that again. 00:28:24.139 --> 00:28:25.099 The Christian life 00:28:25.099 --> 00:28:27.259 is a relational life 00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:28.740 lived in Christ 00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:29.920 by the power 00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:30.639 of His Spirit 00:28:30.639 --> 00:28:31.759 to the glory 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:32.400 of the Father. 00:28:33.900 --> 00:28:34.680 And the way 00:28:34.680 --> 00:28:35.859 in which God's people 00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:37.559 grow is to just 00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:38.579 remain in Christ. 00:28:40.459 --> 00:28:41.339 And there's a certain 00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:41.979 amount of faith 00:28:41.979 --> 00:28:42.519 that we have 00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:43.219 that as long as 00:28:43.219 --> 00:28:44.199 we remain in Christ, 00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:45.740 we remain in His Word, 00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:46.659 we continue 00:28:46.659 --> 00:28:48.079 to be His people, 00:28:48.199 --> 00:28:49.159 we continue in prayer 00:28:49.159 --> 00:28:49.699 and worship 00:28:49.699 --> 00:28:50.799 and to do the things 00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:51.439 He's commanded 00:28:51.439 --> 00:28:52.339 in baptism 00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:53.199 and the Lord's Supper 00:28:53.199 --> 00:28:55.179 that He will grow us 00:28:55.179 --> 00:28:56.139 in our faith. 00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:58.139 He will sanctify us. 00:28:58.219 --> 00:28:59.979 He will perfect 00:28:59.979 --> 00:29:01.179 His love within us. 00:29:02.740 --> 00:29:03.559 And so we don't 00:29:03.559 --> 00:29:04.479 come up with new methods. 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.120 We don't come up 00:29:05.120 --> 00:29:06.120 with new rules 00:29:06.120 --> 00:29:06.779 or regulations. 00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.839 We don't come up 00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:08.380 with new ways 00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:09.660 to experience spirituality. 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:12.680 We continue to remember 00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:13.259 we are saved 00:29:13.259 --> 00:29:14.180 by grace alone, 00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:15.460 through faith alone, 00:29:15.900 --> 00:29:16.900 in Christ alone, 00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:18.380 and we are grown up 00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:20.019 in Him alone. 00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:21.460 For He is the head 00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:24.160 and He is the one 00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:24.839 through whom 00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:26.460 God causes the body 00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:26.880 to grow. 00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:29.220 So let's not be like 00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:30.339 the Israelites at Sinai 00:29:30.339 --> 00:29:30.980 and come up 00:29:30.980 --> 00:29:31.799 with new ways forward. 00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:33.740 Let's not be like 00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:34.700 those of first century 00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:35.319 Colossae 00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:37.039 and invent new methods 00:29:37.039 --> 00:29:37.859 of sanctification 00:29:37.859 --> 00:29:39.059 or new ways 00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:39.859 by which to measure 00:29:39.859 --> 00:29:40.759 someone's spirituality. 00:29:42.200 --> 00:29:43.039 Let's not look 00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:44.099 to the culture around us 00:29:44.099 --> 00:29:45.480 and find new methods 00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:46.440 for proving 00:29:46.440 --> 00:29:47.299 that we are worthy 00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:48.160 of God's love. 00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:50.759 Let's recognize 00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:52.440 in God's Word 00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:53.220 He has said 00:29:53.220 --> 00:29:53.599 that yes, 00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:54.740 we are far more fallen 00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:55.400 than we realize, 00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.339 but He has been 00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:57.380 far more gracious 00:29:57.380 --> 00:29:58.359 than we could ever hope for. 00:29:58.640 --> 00:29:59.900 He has saved us 00:29:59.900 --> 00:30:01.240 and He will continue 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:02.180 to sanctify us. 00:30:02.180 --> 00:30:02.900 He will continue 00:30:02.900 --> 00:30:04.340 to set us apart. 00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:06.060 He will present us 00:30:06.060 --> 00:30:09.340 holy and blameless 00:30:09.340 --> 00:30:10.120 in His sight 00:30:10.120 --> 00:30:12.160 through Jesus Christ 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:12.640 our Lord. 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:14.779 So we remain in Christ. 00:30:14.900 --> 00:30:15.860 We abide in His Word. 00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:17.480 We see Him at work 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.380 in the sacraments 00:30:18.380 --> 00:30:19.820 and we respond to Him 00:30:19.820 --> 00:30:20.620 in prayer and worship. 00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:22.779 It's that simple. 00:30:23.820 --> 00:30:25.019 It's a life lived 00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:26.500 in Christ. 00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:28.339 Let's pray. 00:30:37.140 --> 00:30:37.579 Father, 00:30:37.660 --> 00:30:38.359 we recognize 00:30:38.359 --> 00:30:39.940 that all of us 00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:40.359 are guilty 00:30:40.359 --> 00:30:41.759 of coming up with 00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:44.099 new methods 00:30:44.099 --> 00:30:44.740 that we think 00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:45.460 will please You. 00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:48.099 That all of us 00:30:48.099 --> 00:30:48.559 at times 00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:49.619 have listened 00:30:49.619 --> 00:30:50.359 to others 00:30:50.359 --> 00:30:51.359 in ways 00:30:51.359 --> 00:30:53.079 that we think 00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:53.480 we can be 00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:54.400 a better person. 00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:57.480 Or we've even 00:30:57.480 --> 00:30:58.120 drawn idols 00:30:58.120 --> 00:30:59.279 up out of our own heart 00:30:59.279 --> 00:31:01.059 and turned to those 00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:01.779 instead of You. 00:31:03.420 --> 00:31:04.220 We recognize, 00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:04.500 Father, 00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:05.180 we really, 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:07.599 on our own, 00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:08.180 we're no better 00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:08.920 than the Israelites 00:31:08.920 --> 00:31:09.980 at the base of Sinai. 00:31:12.819 --> 00:31:13.980 We recognize 00:31:13.980 --> 00:31:15.180 that we need help 00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:16.599 not only in coming 00:31:16.599 --> 00:31:17.039 to faith 00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:17.740 but in growing 00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:18.420 in our faith. 00:31:20.339 --> 00:31:21.200 Would You remind us, 00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:21.400 Lord, 00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:22.259 that in the same way 00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:23.379 You brought us to faith 00:31:23.379 --> 00:31:24.460 in Your Son. 00:31:24.519 --> 00:31:25.500 You will grow us 00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:26.079 in our faith 00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:27.339 in Your Son, 00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:28.140 Jesus Christ. 00:31:30.099 --> 00:31:30.920 Would we be 00:31:30.920 --> 00:31:32.460 pressed upon 00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:33.079 our minds 00:31:33.079 --> 00:31:33.859 the seriousness 00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:34.839 of the situation 00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:36.240 of not being in Christ? 00:31:38.359 --> 00:31:39.319 Would we remember 00:31:39.319 --> 00:31:40.400 that lies always 00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:41.339 have this appealing 00:31:41.339 --> 00:31:42.339 surface to them? 00:31:43.619 --> 00:31:44.319 That truth 00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:44.940 is only found 00:31:44.940 --> 00:31:45.500 in Your Word. 00:31:47.079 --> 00:31:47.839 Would You keep us 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:48.819 from listening to others 00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:49.920 or listening to ourselves, 00:31:50.119 --> 00:31:50.240 Lord, 00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:50.799 but would You 00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:52.440 steep us in Christ 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:53.319 in the good news 00:31:53.319 --> 00:31:54.700 of who He is 00:31:54.700 --> 00:31:55.480 and who we are 00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:56.240 because of Him. 00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:59.000 We trust, 00:31:59.159 --> 00:31:59.220 Lord, 00:31:59.259 --> 00:32:00.619 that You will grow us, 00:32:01.159 --> 00:32:01.759 that You will 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:02.619 sanctify us, 00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:04.359 that we will be 00:32:04.359 --> 00:32:05.339 presented holy 00:32:05.339 --> 00:32:05.960 and blameless 00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:06.599 before You, 00:32:07.879 --> 00:32:08.899 all because of 00:32:08.899 --> 00:32:09.639 and for the sake 00:32:09.639 --> 00:32:10.579 of Jesus Christ. 00:32:11.579 --> 00:32:12.639 In His name we pray. 00:32:12.919 --> 00:32:13.240 Amen. 00:32:15.960 --> 00:32:17.139 If you stand with me, 00:32:17.220 --> 00:32:18.319 we'll have one more song 00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:19.039 and then we'll close 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:19.819 with a benediction. 00:32:21.299 --> 00:32:22.879 The song is very simple. 00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:23.480 It's just called 00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:24.539 All I Have is Christ.